Commentary

When the dream gets a bit dreamy

On the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech

by Ken Sehested

        Having been sheltered during adolescence from the Civil Rights Movement (and most everything else outside my small hamlet—except, of course, the far reaches of missionary testimonies), when my attention did turn, during seminary, I became a voracious reader of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others of the era.

        One of my purchases was an over-sized book of photos of Dr. King and other civil rights moments and luminaries. Flipping through, I came upon a photo of King and his wife Coretta sitting at a piano, their infant daughter Yolanda perched on Martin’s lap as he and Coretta sang from an open hymnal.

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Prettifying prophets

A Martin Luther King Jr. birthday remembrance

by Ken Sehested

        I have a vivid memory of that exact moment. I was in seminary, having fled my native South to Yankeedom to finish college and start theological training, embarrassed at being a Baptist, at being a white Southerner, and not entirely sure if I was a believer. But the God question wouldn’t go away.

        A mighty wrestling match was underway in my soul, trying to come to terms with my adolescent “youth revival” preacher days. Neither the Civil Rights nor the anti-Vietnam War movements had disturbed my piously-furrowed brow. Once, in high school, starting a 12-hour shift pumping gas and washing cars, I was transferring product displays and stacks of new tires outside as we prepared to open shortly before dawn. I overheard the radio saying something about Martin Luther King Jr.

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The faux fight for Christmas

Backdrop on the annual year-end culture war

by Ken Sehested

"Every company in America should be on its knees thanking Jesus for being born.
Without Christmas, most American businesses would be far less profitable."
—Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly

I have to admit it was a bit embarrassing to watch the social media outrage of “progressive” Christians (and no, I’m not fond of the modifier) stirred up by the apparent indignation of “traditional” Christians that Starbucks would serve its brews in plain red cups, with nothing but their logo—a 16th century Norse woodcut of a twin-tailed mermaid—instead of those more hallowed images of snowflakes, snowpeople and snow-scened carolers.

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Epiphany: Learning to see what’s really real

A sermon for Epiphany Sunday

by Ken Sehested
Text: Matthew 2:1-12

            Before examining the text, let me first do some interpretation of this service. We’re doing two special recognitions this evening: earlier we did the blessing of Jessica and Rich, and at the end of the service we will commission those traveling to Cuba this next week.

            Welcoming a child into the world, whether by birth or adoption, is still among the most profound callings. This is true even though some who dearly want to have children are not able to do so. And crossing the boundary of enmity, to build relationships with friends in Cuba, is an extraordinary witness to the Gospel word. Some of the legislation governing U.S. relations with Cuba are officially called “Trading with the Enemy” Act.

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A saint for the fourth Sunday of Advent

The story of Dominican Friar Antonio Montesinos’ dramatic call to repentance for Spanish brutal treatment of indigenous peoples on the island of Española

by Ken Sehested

        Six year before Luther commenced his Ninety-Five Theses’ complaint with the Roman church, another priest scandalized the colonizing Spanish authorities with a sermon.

        It was the fourth Sunday of Advent, 1511—half a millennium ago—on the island of Española (modern Haiti and Dominican Republic). Three years prior, three Dominican monks had arrived as Spain’s first missionaries to the territory.

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Who’s St. Nicholas?

Tracing Santa Claus' history to a fourth century saint

by Colleen Kelly

Kids can spot Santa Claus in the twinkling of an eye. But who knows the real St. Nick, a spry guy with olive skin who lived in what's now Turkey and whose ample compassion inspired century after century of legend? We'll introduce you to him today.

Just the Facts

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Made Flesh Among Us

by Ken Sehested
Text: John 1:1-18

Background: Our congregation’s Christmas service was in one of our member’s farm barn, with a simple Christmas story reenactment interspersed with singing Christmas carols. The following Sunday we used the lectionary text from John 1.

        We had a wonderful Christmas at our house. All our kinfolk managed to safely dodge the worst of the weather. With 10 people in the house, two of them juiced-up preschoolers, shoveling snow and splitting firewood offered a welcome break from the clamor. Of course, it’s always a special treat to watch youngsters rip open Christmas gifts.

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Wilderness: Lenten preparation

A collection of biblical texts that speak of wilderness

•Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. Exod. 7:16

•The Israelites complained to Moses, “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Exod. 14:12

•Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food. Num. 21:5

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Trust and obey

Reflections on living in the Spirit

by Ken Sehested
(unpublished lecture delivered at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, March 1993)
 

Two ancient texts to begin:

The Problem: Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. (Genesis 6:11)

The Solution: Heal the sick, and say to them, 'the reign of God has come near you.' (Luke 10:9)

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